Bail for man charged with Liam Aitchison murder on Lewis

It follows the arrest earlier on Saturday of two men by police investigating the teenager’s murder in Stornoway. The second man, age 20, is still in custody but has not been charged.

The body of Liam, 16, was found in a former Department of Agriculture
and Fisheries for Scotland staff house which was previously a RAF store in Steinish, close to Stornoway Airport. Police are thought to believe he was killed elsewhere.

Detective Chief Inspector Kenny Anderson confirmed thwy were now treating Liam’s death as murder.  He added: “The response from the community in Stornoway to appeals for information has been very positive and I would appeal to anyone who may have information in relation to this crime to contact the the incident room at Stornoway Police Station.

“In particular, we wish to trace witnesses who may have seen three people wearing hooded-type tops, who were seen walking in the Steinish village area shortly after midnight on Tuesday 22nd into the early hours of Wednesday 23rd November 2011.”

From speaking to certain people, it may be that some local commentators may have been less than accurate in their assessments so far. That could persuade younger islanders to feel their own accounts would be so different as to be disbelieved. This is a time for absolute honesty about recent incidents.  Tell the police all that you know.

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 01851 702222.

Liam Aitchison

Police on the Isle of Lewis say the death of teenager Liam Aitchison is now being treated as suspicious.  It follows the discovery of a body at a derelict house at Steinish, just outside  Stornoway.

Here is an interview with Chief Inspector Gordon Macleod of Stornoway Police at a press conference on Thursday. Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 01851 702222 or anonymously to 0800 555 111.

Incoming crofters will soon be able to fix the boundaries based on the sale and other documents and objectors will have to come up with proper evidence if they think it is inaccurate.  It may not completely stop the ongoing harrassment in certain Lewis villages but putting that into the Act instead of the current haphazard and unfair procedure by leaving it all up to the Little Hitlers on these committees is a splendid first step.

I have also heard today from people who have had to leave this island because of campaigns against them by these committees without shame.  Nothing official, making life difficult, stealing, damaging, always at night. Drunkards and church-goers. They have all been at it. Makes you proud, eh?

As well as knowingly selling land they know will be snatched back by grazings committees, some solicitors know about the intimidation and turn a blind eye. If anyone else is unhappy about how island solicitors – and certain ones in Inverness – are handling these transactions, please let me know.  Let’s build up some firm evidence – just like they would do.  After all, one of these solicitors – who has obviously been watching too many Ku Klux Klan films – recently gave one woman the wonderful advice: “You’d better move on somewhere else. It is useless to complain. This is how things are done here. No one will listen to you – not even the press.”

Er, excuse me, Mr Dodgy Solicitor.  That may have been the case then. Now some of us are definitely listening – and writing.

Thank you to everyone who pointed out this Press and Journal article (page 3) today.  There is proof that, over on the mainland beat, Northern Constabulary officers are working professionally and diligently to haul owners of out-of-control dogs before the courts for attacking other dogs. The report of an incident in Lochcarron confirms that a report is going to the fiscal. Contrast that with the situation in the Western Isles where dogs are regularly savaged by some very ferocious canines who are in the care of some incredibly irresponsible owners but the local police seem to do little if anything. Let’s be honest – it seems to many complainers as if police are doing nothing.

The gruesome incident, in which a Cocker Spaniel was attacked by what was thought to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, happened in the grounds of Lews

Mischa's neck after the op. Whose dog, child or granny will be next?

Castle. Although the injured dog suffered a large gaping neck wound and had to undergo an emergency operation, her owner has been told by police they will take no action against the other owner.

Housewife Mrs Kristeen Munro, of Bakers Road near Stornoway, said she and her pet Mischa, aged two, were in the grounds on August 28 when the attack happened.

She said she saw a man with two dogs which ran up to Mischa and at first she thought they were being playful. “Then one of the dogs turned mine onto her back and sank its teeth in her neck and locked on and began to shake her. I couldn’t believe it – especially as its owner just watched.”

Despite the danger to herself, Kristeen tried to separate them in a bid to save her dog. “I was punching it. I was kicking it. I was crying. I was on my hands and knees with a collar in each hand and the other owner did nothing to help. He just sauntered on.” When the attacking dog finally fled, Kristeen shouted after the owner to say she was calling the police. “I got a tirade of abuse in return. When the officers came, I told them the direction he had gone.”

Mischa is recovering

Mischa’s neck had been cut open. Kristeen called the vet who immediately performed a lifesaving operation and seven stitches were put in her neck.

Afterwards, Kirsteen met the officers who said they had spoken to the attacking dog’s owner. When she asked if he was being charged, Kristeen was shocked to be told no. She later learned that a sergeant had actually seen the attack dog still with blood around its mouth.

“They told me they were taking no further action and advised me to call the council dog warden. This has traumatised not just the dog but our whole family. Although Mischa is recovering, my daughter is now having nightmares about being mauled by dogs. That is what disturbs me about the police attitude.”

Western Isles Council would only say they would be investigating the circumstances and would then take appropriate action. A police spokesman confirmed that all officers had the option to make a report to the procurator fiscal for possible court action about dangerous dogs if they felt that was appropriate.

However, a Northern Constabulary statement said: “Details of this case were passed to the acting Dog Warden (Environmental Services Department CNES), a department which has the necessary powers under the Control of Dogs Act 2010 to effectively deal with such incidents. This has been communicated to the complainer.
“Police do also have powers under the terms of the Act to deal with animals which are deemed out of control, however, each case must be analysed on a case by case basis. If an incident results in any injury to a member of the public the community can be reassured that Police will take the appropriate action. No person was injured as a result of the incident in question.”

It is understood the council believes it can only order the dog to be muzzled out of doors and is not in a position to take the matter to court – despite assurances by police to the contrary.

Chief Inspector Gordon Macleod, the area commander for the Western Isles, is refusing to be interviewed about the case – despite the strong local feelings which may affect the reputation of Stornoway Police.

An animal welfare specialist said: “There was serious crime here and the police should have dealt with it properly. I am shocked that they have left it to a local authority.”

A longtime owner said one of her dogs was also viciously attacked in Bayble in the Point district of the island two months ago. She also says she was sworn at by a man who was with that attacker.

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Kristeen Munro says she is now considering taking the matter to the Deputy Chief Constable and possibly to the Police Complaints Commissioner so that her complaint that Stornoway officers’ failure to act professionally to protect the public can be independently reviewed.

Predictably, from someone born too late to be Adolf Hitler’s speechwriter, the latest missive is yet another vacuous attempt at self-justification which tries pathetically to paint everyone else in the same dark colours as himself.

Miavaig used to be such a nice place

To try and justify the illegal and continuing anti-gay discrimination practised by certain Lewis bed-and-breakfast operators – with famous support from a certain bigoted political failure who now wants to bring his particular brand of twisted hatred to Western Isles Council – by referring to the untimely death of Freddie Mercury of Queen, is not just laughable but shows there is no depth to which this guy will not plumb.

Did any great heterosexual rock legend ever die because of his or her lifestyle, by any chance? None that the Monster of Miavaig thinks are worthy of mention, apparently.

His is a very sad letter, he is a very sad person and we should all be deeply saddened to know there are unbalanced people with such views living in these islands. He always points out he doesn’t hate alone.

Anyone who calls themselves a real Christian should be praying for him to be released from his delusions and the hammered-in intolerance that permeates his very soul.

http://www.hebrides-news.com/discrimination-13811.html

Ach, computers. Nivver dae whit they’re telt, as one Mid Yell fella said to me tonight.

Now everyone knows it was Fox’s brother Jake, the quiet lad from Sunnyside, that got his collar felt by the Met, they have gone cock-a-hoop. Not thon lad wha wis kicked outta the school? Plenty had suspicions although many were wrong. Some came close but no, it’s not Ben Davies.

Phew, Ben. That’s why they were calling you Lottery. It Could Be You. No more though. Poor Jake’s the man.